Anti-abortion bill advances in Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- A bill requiring doctors to show ultrasound images of their fetuses to all women seeking abortions advanced Thursday in the Kentucky Legislature.

A Senate committee approved Senate 38 unanimously, The (Louisville) Courier-Journal reported. That allows it to go to the Senate floor for a vote.

In the past, bills attempting to reduce the number of abortions in Kentucky have stalled in the House after passing the Senate.

Republican state Sen. Elizabeth Tori said the bill goes further than a similar one she sponsored last year. The current measure requires doctors to explain the details of the ultrasound to women, including showing them how many fetuses are involved and pointing out visible body parts such as arms and legs.

Robert Castagna, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky, called abortion a "life-changing and life-ending procedure."

"Good public policy demands that before a woman gives truly informed consent and allows an irreversible procedure to be performed on herself and her unborn child, she should be fully informed by the most complete and current information," he said.